With nearly 60 million Americans in its path, Hurricane Sandy nears landfall

by jmaloni

Press release

Mon, Oct 29th 2012 06:00 pm

Utilities
urge customers to put safety first, as line workers and other
critical personnel form "virtual army" to restore power

National
weather forecasters' most dire predictions edged closer Monday
morning, as Hurricane Sandy strengthened and neared landfall in the
Mid-Atlantic, with hundreds of thousands of Americans fleeing to
higher ground. The Edison Electric Institute - the association of
U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies - and its member
companies have been coordinating with federal and local government
officials and have strongly urged customers to
put safety first, with utility line workers and other
frontline personnel staged in key locations, prepared to respond once
conditions are safe.

"EEI
is working with the federal government, including FEMA and the
Department of Energy and first responders, to coordinate response,"
said EEI Senior Vice President Brian Wolff. "EEI's member
companies in Sandy's path have mobilized thousands of storm and
field personnel, and have called upon extra workers and resources
from all across the country and as far away as Canada and Mexico,
through the industry's mutual assistance network. We strongly urge
customers to put safety first, (and) prepare for the possibility of
extended outages due to the enormity of Hurricane Sandy, which is on
track to become a megastorm, just as predicted."

Federal
and state officials warned that due to the slow-moving nature of
Hurricane Sandy - estimated at more than 1,000 miles across moving
at about 15 mph - could take two or more days to clear an area,
delaying much of the damage assessment necessary before power
restoration efforts could begin. The storm surge - in excess of 12
feet in some areas - could leave one out of every six Americans in
the storm's path without power.

Forecasters
predict winds of 30 to 50 miles per hour - sustained for up to 48
hours - with gusts of 75 to 90 miles per hour. The combination of
steady high winds and rain-drenched soil make trees more susceptible
to falling, which can wreak havoc on power lines and other electrical
equipment.

The
hurricane-force winds also are spinning up the surf, producing
20-foot waves off the Mid-Atlantic coastline, and a massive 41-foot
wave, which has been recorded near Cape Hatteras. Heavy surf and
large waves also are predicted for areas of the Great Lakes if Sandy
turns northwest as expected.

President
Obama signed emergency declarations for New York, New Jersey,
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Rhode Island and
the District of Columbia, allowing these states and the nation's
capital to request federal funds in advance to help pay their massive
recovery costs. As many as 10 states along the eastern seaboard,
including Virginia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina,
Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, as well
as Washington, D.C., themselves declared states of emergency before
Sandy hit land.

As
of Sunday evening, airlines had cancelled more than 6,000 flights,
and New York, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia announced
public transit systems would be shut down. Amtrak cancelled service
in the northeast.

The
federal government is closed, along with school systems up and down
the eastern seaboard. Washington, D.C., and New York City has shut
down their subway systems and the New York Stock Exchange also is
closed due to Hurricane Sandy - the first time the N.Y.S.E. has
closed trading for weather reasons since 1985.

TheEEI Storm
Center site continues to be updated with safety tips, links to
customers' own electricity providers' outage centers, real-time
information and updates on storm preparation and restoration
progress. EEI also encourages utility customers to follow EEI's
social media sites Twitter
and Facebook.

Just
as the power companies prepare for severe weather and the possibility
of power outages, EEI wants to remind power customers of the
importance of preparing for storms and other emergency situations. Be
safe, be informed.

If
a severe storm is approaching:

Visit
your local electric company's web site for the latest updates and
guidance on how to prepare for storms.

Create
a written emergency preparedness and action plan for your family
and/or business.

Decide
where to go if you're at home, school, work, outdoors, or in a car
when a hurricane or tropical storm threaten. Update these plans
every school year and as places of employment and residence change.

Identify
two places where you and your family members can meet if you are
separated: one outside your home and another outside your
neighborhood.

If
you live in a hurricane evacuation zone:

Make
an evacuation plan if you live in an area vulnerable to storm surge
or flooding.

Identify
the evacuation route you will use if you are told to evacuate.

Research
alternate routes, if possible.

Have
current paper (hard-copy) maps on hand. (Don't rely only on
smartphones and mobile devices, as cellular networks may be down in
your area during a storm.)

Fill
your gas tank before the storm. Power outages can shut down gas
stations.

Have
your emergency outage kit stocked and readily available.

Obtain
emergency supplies in advance of a storm.

Test
emergency equipment such as generators and flashlights.

Include
at least a three-day supply of water (a gallon per person per day)
and non-perishable food.

In
advance of a severe storm, visit an ATM to ensure you have extra
cash on hand, fill prescriptions, and bring in loose objects from
outside.